Sandra Noel Allen's Obituary
Sandra (Sandy) Noelle Keith Allen passed away surrounded by her family on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, after suffering from vascular dementia. She was born on December 6, 1949 in San Mateo, California to Robert Keith and Gloria Dampier Keith; after her mother’s early death she was raised from age five by her stepmother, Elsa Malde. She lived in or near San Francisco for all of her childhood.
Sandy was a playful and mischievous child. Even at a young age, Sandy stood up against injustices she saw. She loved to ski and was a Girl Scout. She graduated from Lake Tahoe High School in 1966 and attended University of the Pacific and Arizona State University where she was loved by everyone around her. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 20, then broke the hearts of many men when she fell in love with and married Loren Pace Allen on March 27, 1970 in the Mesa, AZ temple.
Sandy graduated with a Master’s degree in education and taught Special Education for 30 years, retiring just 12 years ago. She was a beloved teacher who knew her students’ potential and helped them reach it. After retirement she fell in love with photography and had thousands of Instagram followers.
She and Loren lived in Salt Lake City, St. Johns, Arizona, Bountiful, Utah, and Springville, Utah, before landing in Orem, Utah, where Sandy cultivated a beautiful garden that lives on in memory of her. Along the way, they had seven children: Magdalene, Loren, Benjamin, Aaron (deceased), Ethan, Christopher, and Miranda. Sandy loved being a mom; she cherished her children deeply and was very involved in their lives. She taught them by example that, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Sandy and Loren were passionate about family history and had great fun uncovering mysteries about their ancestors. She leaves behind 18 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, all of whom she made feel special and loved. She also leaves behind her six children, her husband, Loren, and her sister, Lisa.
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